Barbecue machine



Oct. 29, 1929. A. RASMUssEN "usr L 1,733,627.

BARBEcUE MACHINE Filed Feb. 20. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I I l l I l r I I l I l I I I I I l I QQ A IN VEN TORS.

NE YS BARBECUE MACHINE Filed Feb. 2o. 1928 A. RASMUSSEN El' Al.

A To 'Ex/s.'

oct. 29, 1929.

Patented Oct. 29, 1929 ANnREW RASMSSEN `,AN-n WILLAM s. GOODELL, or RA'CYINE; vs'Is-boies'na american Madman This invention relates toiniproveinentsin barbecue machines; j Q

`ItI is one of the objects of the' present invention to provide a barbecue niaohine for roasting` or broilinga plurality of pieces' of nieat or other inaterial at the saine time bee fore an open lire in vvhi'ch the cooking period is controlled' automatically to prevent burning or over-cooking. n y n A further object of the iiri'ventii'an is to provide a barbecue'inaehine having automatic niean's for individually rotating each piece of meat during the cooking operation to present .all sides of eachpiece to the heat of the i'el yiy n A further object of the invention is to pi"ovide a barbeque maeliine `which Will perinit r the independent adjustment of anyl oi the rotary members tor pr-ive'nty burning the nieat. `r

,A further object of the invention is provide a ybarbecue niaclnne havingl means for automatically rbasting the pieces o'f meatbfeing roasted for certain predetermined periodsr after the pieces oi' ineat have yb'e'ensubjectedf` t l A t p vvhieh fit` between transverse ribs 21 `to l hold to heat' oi' theiire' fora:oertainfperiodlt t A further yobject ofy the invention Vis tofpro'-`r vide a barbecue maeli'inevvhich isfof simple const-ru@tion7V 1s strong and durable, and` isIv well adapted for' the purpdee' deseribed.y`

With the above and other t' 'objects` in vieu'T the invention 'consists ofthe improvedbar-k becue machine and'its parts' and combina' tionsla's set forth inthe claiins`,and Vall equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in ywhich dieV saine reference characters indicate; the' saine parte in all ofthe views: f

Fig l is a from View ofthe impoveajbafbecue machine,A with a kpiece of y meat shown suspended from one ofthe holding members;

Fig. 2 is a side vie'vvthereof,parte`l being shown in section; n g l n y Fig. y3y is; a topviewon a larger scale of the barbecue niachine, a part being's'howvn in section;k j f Fig. Li' isa vertical longitu'dinal sectional view of the upper portion of the barbecue machineg f n Y i f y y o Fig. 5 is a side View of the eurtain'releasing mechanism, parte being showin yrinsectio'n; andkFig. 6 is a diagraniinatic vieivof the'eleC? trical connectim's'."l n r n i lL-elerringv to the drnv'inge,L the" nurneral indicates a Wall ovenwhich is provided ivith afire box 9, a tiltable grate 10"7 a side opening 11` covered Withgrating bars12,` and clean-p y outj doors *13 and iiring doors 14'." AThe side opening 11 protected by they grate bars 12 ornis the heating inefans"forfralstingJ ory broiling the Ineats or'4 other inaterials hungfin tiltable type' and is provided a handle 15 for tilting the grate and for holdingthe grate in horizoiital''po'sitio'lin'vvhile a pin 16' holds the handle uprightpsition'. q r

A horizontal trarne 17` hunted' onr4 the` upperiront Wall portion 'of the oven isy prof' vided With ytransverse openings18E for adjustably yreoe'iving, bearing inernbrs'" 19; Hand nuts 20`thr`eaded' onthe lower endp'or-y tions `of n the hearing niembers adjustably clamp thebearingsv position'inthetransverse openingsor slots.` yTheupper' end por# tions of the bearings have sc'l'uared,heads` 19 y and prevent; ythe bearingsr ,freni turning. Shortshafts 22 having lower yhooked" ends 'p23l extend through'the bearingsi and at their upper ends have ysprocket Wheels w24.`Inou'nted'. fast thereon, vvhich areengadbjf ane'ndless"` sprocket chain 25. The chain alfsoffiextends aroundidler pulleys or Wheels`26' anda' drive front of Said opening `'llhegrate'10 is'of the n ing sprocket Wheel 27 inounted onl a ShortV 'y vertical),shartk '28.y v The idler pulleysfhave lower fllil'g'. t0" 'support v sprocket chain and are positionedk in pairsin alineiiientwith one of thetransverse ribs 21 of eachk ef www@',fdreclfsprclegwhel 24,16 mit the yengage'ment `of they Sprocket Wheels ribs toprovide astraightftransverse chain e 24 with the said Straight sections in any position of adjustment of said sprocket wheels. A spring controlled chain tightener 30 is provided for yieldingly taking up slack in the chain, Y

The short vertical shaft 28 has a bevel gear Y connection 3l with a gear reduction mechasides of the grate is provided with channel nism 32 ofthe worm and worm wheel type, and the reduction mechanism is connected to and driven by an electric motor rl`he motor will rotate the chain and cause the ro-V tation of the sprocket wheels and short shafts 22 and hook members 84, from which pieces of meat 35 areisuspended and slowly rotated thereby in front of the gratebars. An automatic control and timeswitch 36 is driven freni Ythe gear reduction shaftY 32V by a sprocket chain and wheel connection 37 to provide for the cooking andbasting periods.

The front portion of the wall on opposite Y tendsover some of the pulleys 41, and at its opposite end is connected to a pin 43'having `an'annularshoulder 44 formed at its lower end.

A controllingA mechanism 45 mounted on the geartransmission is provided with a socket 46 for receiving the pin 43, and. into whichxsocket extends a bell crank lever 47 ywhich engagesthe shoulder 44 of the pin to hold the curtainin its upper position. YThe opposite end 47. of the bell crank lever bears against theouter face of a disk 48 mounted on a rod49,and the inner end of said rod isY formed with a conical end 49 which eirtends into the bore of a governor member 50.

" Said member carries centrifugally actuated weighted arms 5lV having beveled inner edges 5lV which are `adapted to engagethe conical end 49 of the'rod49 and force said'rod outwardly when the speed of rotation or" the transmission shaft, upon which the member 50is mounted, decreases to a'predetermined eXtenty or stops.` This movement willrelease the pin 43 and drop the curtainv 39 to protec't the meat.

fn broiling or'eroasting meat, itis very desirable to baste the meat at and for predetermined periods of time after the meat has beeninitially subjected to the heat for a cer tainperiod. .To accomplish this result, a tank 52 positioned beneath the hook mem- Y bers 34 is supported upon arms projecting outwardly from the wall of the oven to receiv'ejt-he drippings Afrom the pieces of meat suspended from the hook members 34. An electrically aotuatedpump 54 having its inlet opening connected to the bottom portion of the tank at one end has an outlet pipe 55 which entends upwardly to the frame 17 and horizontally along the front portion Vof the frame 17. Branch'pipes 56 connected to the pipe V55, and extending, respectively, downwardly and inwardly, terminate adjacent the meat hook members 84 to direct the basting fluid and meat drippings from the tank, upon each piece of meat suspended from the hooks.

A friction clutch 57 mounted onV the gear reduction shaft 58 provides for drivingly VYoisengaging the motor from the gear reduction.

Fic. 6 shows a diagrammatic view of rthe electrical connections and switches which are in part included in the time switch 36 and are self-explanatory.

ln'use, pieces of meat are connected to the hook members 34, and said hook members are connected to the lower hooked ends 23 of the short shafts, and the current to the inotor is then turned on to rrotate the short siiats and the pieces of meat suspended therefrom. The meat in turning will be subjected to the'heat from the open lire, and will'be broiled or roasted, andthe juices therefrom will drop into the tank 52. Before startinofthe cooking, the regulator 86 is set to automatically turn on current to the basting pump after the meat hasbeen subjected to the cooking o'perationfor a predetermined period of time, and initially baste the meat. After the initial basting the regulator will turn on the current to the pump to intermittently baste the meat at stated periods of time. Y If for any reason the motor turning the pieces of meat should slow up in speed orrstop, the pinV 43 holding up the fireproof curtain would be released and drop the curtain in front of the lire and thus protect the meat from burning. The machine also provides for ringing a bell 36 when stopping. As the short shaftbearings are adjustable Vtransversely of the supporting frame, each piece of meat may be turned in ra plane closer to or farther from the re grate, thus providing for cooking various sizes or kinds of inea From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the barbecue machine is well adapted for the purpose described. Y Y

Vhat we claim as our invention is:

l. A Vbarbecue machine, comprising a heating member havingan open sideportion, a frame positioned adjacent thereto and having a plurality of elongated slots extendingtowards the open sideportionV of the heating member, bearing members adj ustably mounted iny parallel relationin said slots, shafts journaled in the bearingsand Vhaving means for suspending pieces of food material 'therefrom and in front ofthe open side portion of the heating member, means for rotating` the shafts and permitting adjustment of kand clamping of the bearings in the elongated slots, and means controlling the rotation of the rotary members.

2. A. barbecue machine, comprising a heatingy member having an open side portion, a frame positioned adjacent thereto and having a plurality of elongated slots extending towards the open side portion of the heating member, bearing members adj ustably mounted in the slots,fshafts journaled in the bearings and having means at their lower ends foil suspending pieces of food material therefrom and in front of the open side portion of the heating member, sprocket wheels mounted on the upper end portions of the shafts, a sprocket chain adjustably engaged by the sprocket wheels and extending in a plurality of planes parallel to the elongated slots, and means for rotating the sprocket chain.

3. A barbecue machine, comprising a heating member havingr an open side portion, a frame positioned adjacent thereto and having a plurality of elongated slots extending towards the open side portion of the heating member, bearing members mounted in the slotted portions and adjustable towards and away from the open side portion of the heating member, means for securing the bearing members in adjusted posit-ion, shafts journaled in the bearings and having lower hook portions for suspending pieces of food material therefrom and in front of the open side I portion of the heating member, sprocket wheels mounted on the upper end portions of the shafts, idler chain wheels j ournaled on the frame and positioned adjacent opposite end portions of the elongated slots, a driving sprocket wheel journaled on the frame, a sprocket chain extending around the idler wheels and the driving sprocket to provide straight sections of the chain extending parallel to theelongated slots, said straight sections being drivingly engaged by the sprocket wheels of the shafts, and means for rotating the driving sprocket Wheel.

4:. A barbecue machine, comprising a heat# ing member having an open side portion, a frame positioned adjacent thereto and having a plurality of elongated slots extending towards the open side portion of the heating member, bearing members mounted in the slotted portions and adjustable towards and away from the open side portion of the heating member, means for securing the bearing members in adjusted position, shafts journaled in the bearings and having lower hook portions for suspending pieces of food material therefrom and in front of the open side portion of the heating member, sprocket f wheels mounted on'the upper end portions of the shafts, idler chain wheels ournaled on the frame and positioned adjacent opposite endk portions of the elongated slots, a driving sitel end portions of the elongated slots,

driving sprocket wheel journaled onithe sprocket wheel journaledon the frame,-a`

sprocketqchain extending around the idler wheels and the ydriving sprocket to provide" straight sections of the Lchain extending par` allel to the elongated slots, said stra-ight sections being drivingly engaged by ,thev sprocket Wheelsy of the shafts, a reductionl gear mounted on the frame and having a geared connec' tion with the drivey sprocketwheehand a mo# tor for driving the reduction gear;v f

5; A barbecuemachine, comprising a heatingmember havingl an open' side portion, a frame positioned adjacent thereto and having ai pluralityoffelongated slots extending to-' wards the open side portion of the heating member, bearing members mounted in the slottedV portions and adjustable towardsand n' away from the open yside portion of the heat'- ing' member, means for securing 'the' bearingy members in adjusted position, shafts j our-j naled iny thebe'arings and having' lower hook portions for suspending pieces'of foodmaterial therefrom and in front of the open: side e portion of the heating member, sprocket wheelsy mounted'on the upper endl portions of the shafts, idler chain wheels jou'rnaled on thel'frame and positioned adjacent-,oppoframe, a sprocket chain extending aroundthe idler wheelsandthe driving sprocket to pro-k' vide straight sections of thechain extendingl j i' parallel to the elongated slots, said' straight sections drivingly engaged by the sprocket' `wheels of they shafts, a reduction gear mounted on the' frame and having: geared connectionwith they drive sprocket" wheel,`-an electric motor for driving the re' duction gear, a pumpmotor': andimeans actu-` v a-ted from the reduction gear' for `controlling the electric current to the pump motor. n j

6. A barbecue machine, comprising a heating means, a frame positiouedadjacent there#y to, a plurality of rotary members carried by the frame and having means forsuspending pieces of food ,material therefrom and in front of the heating means, means forrotat-` ing the yrotary members, a heatproof screen movable to a position. between the heating means and the food material, and means controlling the rotation ofthe rotary members and the interposition of the screen between the heating `means and the pieces of food material. j y v i l 7. A barbecue machine,jcomprising a .heating member having an openside portion, aL

frame positioned adjacent thereto, a plurality of rotary members carriedbytheframe and 'i material, a counterweight forthe screen, and

means'controlling the rotation of the rotary members and the interposition of the screen Y between the heating means and the pieces of y foodmaterial; 54-v 8.V A barbecue machine, comprising a heat- Y ing member, a Vframe positioned adjacent thereto, vertical shafts journaled in the frame and having lower hooked portions for suspending pieces of food material in front of the heating' member, sprocket Wheels mounted y on the Vertical shafts, idlerV Wheels journaled on the frame, a driving sprocket Wheel journaled on the frame, a sprocket VChain engaging Y the sprocket Wheels and the idler Wheels,'a A motor for rotating the sprocket Chain, a basting iuid holding tank positioned bel W the suspended pieces of food material for reeeiving the drippings therefrom, a eonduitmeans for directing the basting fluid from the tank t0 the pieces of suspended food material, a pump means for `forcing the basting liquid through said conduit means, a'pump driving means, and meanscontrolling the intermittentA operation ofthe pump driving means. 9. A barbecue machine, comprising a heating member having an'open side portion, a frame positioned adjacent thereto and having an elongated-slot extending towards the open side portion of the heating member, a bearing member adjustably mounted in said slot, a shaft journaled in the bearingvand having means for suspending pieces o-ood material therefrom and in front of the open side portion of the heating member, means for rotating the shaft and ,permitting adjustment of the bearing inthe elongated slot, means for VClamping thefbearing to the frame in adjusted position, and means Controlling the speed of rotation of the shaft. Y Y ,40 In testimony whereof, We aix our signatures.

' ANDREV- RASMUSSEN.

WILLIAM S.y GGODELL., l 

